Ballarat top seeds arrive via Aussie Open wildcard play-off
Singles top seeds Harry Bourchier and Jaimee Fourlis enter the Ballarat Open Platinum AMT singles on Wednesday fresh from battle in the Australian Open wildcard play-off.
Seeded five in the select wildcard line-up, Bourchier from Tasmania won his opening match in straight sets to reach the quarter finals, while Fourlis (seeded six) did not progress past her first match.
Bourchier is looking to continue a strong finish to the year at Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre.
He took out the Victorian Hardcourt Championships men's singles and doubles titles - also a Platinum AMT event - at Caroline Springs last month.
Fourlis is striving to regain the form which saw her reach the second round of the 2017 Australian Open and qualify for the French Open draw in the same year as a teenager.
Her best singles result this year was a win in the ACT Open Platinum AMT.
SINGLES SEEDS
MEN'S: 1 Harry Bourchier, 2 Jacob Grills, 3 Brandon Daly-Walkin, 4 Lucas Vuradin
WOMEN'S: 1 Jaimee Fourlis, 2 Alexandra Bozovic, 3 Alana Parnaby, 4 Laura Ashley
Two-time Ballarat Open Platinum winner Nives Baric will be one to watch in the women's singles qualifying draw of the $15,000 tournament.
Baric won the titles in 2014 and 2015, defeating Ballarat's Zoe Hives on each occasion.
The men's and women's open qualifying events have each attracted 64 players, with four from each to progress to the main draw.
The men's and women's open doubles have 30 and 25 entries respectively, while Ballarat Under-18 Gold AMT boys' and girls' singles are also restricted top main draws.
Neither of last year's open champions Belinda Woolcock and Frenchman Vincent Stouff are defending their singles crowns.